Car drivers who turn off their car’s air con at low speeds and open a window instead can improve engine efficiency and fuel economy by up to 20 percent, say new claims.
Tests by BP proved that using the air con at normal city centre speeds reduced engine efficiency by 20.4%. Over 12,000 miles, this equates to an additional fuel spend of £1,376.
As traffic is likely to be heavy this Bank Holiday weekend, the fuel company is thus advising drivers to put its theory into practice if they get stuck in a jam or some slow-moving traffic.
Andrea Abrahams from BP Target Neutral said: ‘If you’re crawling along in a motorway or A-road jam, or driving through town, turning off the aircon and letting the fresh air in naturally can have a big impact on your fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.’
Of course, the theory does not hold true for higher-speed motoring. Opening a car window at speed has a disastrous effect on aerodynamics, and can easily outweigh the effect air con has on overall efficiency.
This is not a factor at slower speeds, though. The big question is, will YOU be prepared to put up with a hot and sticky car in return for saving on fuel? The windows-down advice is sound in theory, but will it be so welcome in practice?
Share your thoughts here: is it air con on or windows down this weekend?
